Something about walking down the office supply aisle gives a feeling of relief and bliss. At least for me, anyway, the feeling of productivity is overwhelming. Even if I do not buy anything, I still love looking at pens and staplers, pretending that I am somehow more organized than I actually am. For some reason, this same feeling hits me during scheduling season. The thought of attending different classes, imaging a new routine, and crossing off requirements gives me this same feeling of almost-accomplishment. However, as we dive further into our education, scheduling can add a daunting effect, too. Some classes are only scheduled with a limited time frame while other general education classes seem to have endless options, and it can be difficult to find a balance between the two. With honors and athletes scheduling on Wednesday, the fall semester is right around the corner.

       

One tip that has been useful during my first year of college is to not let word of mouth determine which classes to take. While websites such as ratemyprofessor.com can be helpful to learn a professor’s teaching style, they should not be a make-or-break factor while scheduling classes. In all honesty, I have learned that most of the students who rate professors on these websites either really enjoyed their instructor or had an issue with him or her; there is not a whole lot in between. One of my favorite professors from this fall semester had an extremely low rating on ratemyprofessor.com because of the course’s difficulty. This almost deterred me from taking the class. However, though the class entailed a large workload, I learned more from my low-rated professor than any of my other classes.

       

Another point to keep in mind is to plan a study schedule along with a class schedule. For example, this semester I changed my schedule by taking a class at 9 am along with a 4:30 pm class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Though this would not normally be an ideal schedule for a commuter, I was forced to do all my studying on campus, avoiding distractions at home. This works for me, but others do not thrive in a literal nine-to-five schedule. While some students purposely schedule all their classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to have Tuesday and Thursday off, I know I would never be able to motivate myself to do anything on days without classes. Figure out at which times work best for you and which kind of schedule fits your study needs.

       

Lastly, remember to see your advisor. As redundant and repetitive as this tip may seem, it is important to make sure you have all the classes you need. Some classes required for majors only occur once a year. No one wants to spend an extra semester at school simply to take one forgotten class, and seeing your advisor could prevent a disaster like that. Even with just a quick look at your schedule, your advisor can help you to balance your schedule while also saving you time and distress.